I am happy to announce the creation of a diocesan Taskforce on Hispanic/Latino Mission and Ministry Sustainability.

The taskforce's goals are to offer advice on the development of new Hispanic/Latino congregations and to provide direction on sustainability for new and existing congregations. In about 18 months the taskforce, which will report directly to me, will present a new strategic vision for Hispanic/Latino ministry in the diocese and recommendations to support our existing Latino congregations and potential new congregations in ways that promote vitality and sustainability.

Luis Garcia, a member of Church of the Atonement and co-chair of the Congregations Commission, will convene and chair this new group. I am grateful to him for accepting this new responsibility.

Currently, our Hispanic/Latino ministry includes nine congregations and a few congregations in formation. I have asked the taskforce to talk with and listen to people across the diocese who care about and support ministry within and alongside these Latino communities, including both members of Latino congregations and diocesan partners.

To provide a space for the task force’s work, I am asking for a pause in the development of any new Latino ministries or congregations. This hiatus is in no way intended to discourage interest in Hispanic/Latino ministry, but instead to help all of us become better equipped to respond strategically to the long-term spiritual and pastoral needs of Hispanic/Latino Episcopalians. With the taskforce’s leadership, I believe that we will be better prepared to consider new Hispanic/Latino ministry development in mid-2019.

For more than 40 years, the Diocese of Chicago has been blessed by Hispanic/Latino Episcopalians from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and many other countries. Some are immigrants and some are citizens, and all are essential to our common life as the people of God in the diocese. I am grateful for this opportunity to build capacity for Hispanic/Latino ministry.